Issue No. 055 · Story 01 · September 18, 2026
TrademarkNew Balance Sues Decathlon Over Running Shoe Logo
New Balance filed a Massachusetts federal trademark lawsuit alleging that a symbol on Decathlon's Kiprun running shoes is confusingly similar to the N marks used on New Balance footwear.
- §The complaint was filed September 15 against Decathlon's U.S. affiliate.
- §New Balance alleges that it has used an N on nearly all of its footwear since the 1970s and owns several federal registrations covering the mark.
- §The challenged design appears on Kiprun shoes and is described by Decathlon as a stylized K, while New Balance alleges that its mirrored form resembles an N.
- §New Balance seeks damages and a jury trial after the companies were unable to resolve the dispute before filing.
THE TAKEAWAY
Distinctive brand elements can carry substantial weight even when they are simple. This issue follows two trademark disputes over letterforms and names, plus an appellate copyright ruling that narrows one path for claims involving artificial intelligence code tools.
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